College football: Week 1 state capsules

Coaches: Matt Campbell (9-4 in second year at Toledo); Will Muschamp (18-8 in third year at Florida)

2012: Toledo was 9-4 (6-2 MAC); Florida was 11-2 (7-1 SEC)

Notable: Florida has won 23 consecutive season openers. It’s the longest active streak in the SEC and the second longest in the nation (Nebraska has won 27 consecutive season openers).

What to watch

1. Can the Gators offense improve?: Florida won 11 games last season due in large part to an outstanding defense, not a high-powered offense. Junior quarterback Jeff Driskel is talented, but will need help from his receivers to top last year’s average of 146.3 passing yards per game (ranked 114th in the nation).

2. Toledo’s defensive line: None of the Rockets defensive lineman have ever started a college football game. The current depth chart has Toledo starting two sophomores, a senior and a freshman. Their ability to hold up in a hostile environment will be crucial if Toledo is to pull off the upset.

3. Florida’s defense: Florida ranked fifth in the nation in points allowed per game last season (14.5), but return only three starters — defensive lineman Dominique Easley and defensive backs Loucheiz Purifoy and Jaylen Watkins. The new starters will need to acclimate quickly before facing Miami next week.

FIU at Maryland

Time, TV: 12:30 p.m., FOX Sports Florida

Favorite: Maryland by 21½

Coaches: Ron Turner (0-0 in first year at FIU, 42-61 in 10th year overall); Randy Edsall (6-18 in third year at Maryland, 80-88 in 15th year overall)

2012: FIU was 3-9 (2-6 Sun Belt), Maryland was 4-8 (2-6 ACC)

What to watch

1. Jake Medlock: FIU’s junior quarterback is the lone returning offensive starter. Medlock battled injuries last season, but still managed to throw for 2,127 yards and 13 touchdowns and two interceptions.

2. Maryland’s receiving corps: Stephon Diggs and Deon Long could be one of the top receiving duos in the ACC this season. Diggs, a sophomore, ranked eighth in the nation with 172.4 all-purpose yards per game. Long, a junior college transfer, caught 100 passes for 1,625 yards and 25 TDs last season.

3. FIU’s defensive line: If there is a strength to the remade FIU lineup, it’s the front four. Senior defensive tackle Greg Hickman ranks among FIU’s career leaders in sacks (sixth), forced fumbles (tied for fifth) and tackles for loss (eighth). Defensive end Giovani Francois and defensive tackle Isame Faciane both received preseason Conference USA honors.

McNeese State at USF

Time, TV: 7:04 p.m., ESPN3

Favorite: No Line

Coaches: Matt Viator (52-24 in seventh year at McNeese State); Willie Taggart (0-0 in first year at USF, 16-20 in fourth year overall)

2012: McNeese State was 7-4 (4-3 SLC); USF was 3-9 (1-6 Big East)

What to watch

1. USF’s new offense: The Bulls will have more of a run-heavy offense under Taggart and should use the tight ends in the passing game more than they have in the past.

2. McNeese State’s backfield: The Cowboys are led by senior quarterback Cody Stroud, who has thrown for 4,697 yards in his career, and a stable of running backs. The trio of Marcus Wiltz, Javaris Murray and Kelvin Bennett spearhead a running game that totaled 2,304 yards in 2012.

3. Aaron Lynch: USF returns seven starters — including linebacker DeDe Lattimore and defensive end Ryne Giddens, but Lynch could be truly special. The defensive end was a freshman All-American at Notre Dame in 2011.